Cameron dismisses benefit cut concerns

David Cameron has pledged to press ahead with cuts to housing benefit despite warnings the measures will "dehumanise" hundreds of thousands of poor people by forcing them out of big cities.

The Prime Minister said yesterday the Government would stick to its controversial proposals, insisting it was not fair for claimants to live in properties many hard-working families could only "dream of".

The staunch defence came as urban MPs from across parties voiced concerns over the moves, which include a 400-a-week housing benefit cap for four-bedroom homes and a 10 per cent reduction for the long-term unemployed.

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Labour Leader Ed Miliband seized on the issue in the Commons yesterday branding the policy a "shambles" and calling on the coalition to "think again"

But Mr Cameron stressed the cap would still leave claimants able to receive about 20,000 a year for housing. He insisted that, although the welfare reforms were difficult, they were needed to protect other areas of spending such as the schools and NHS from austerity cuts.

"We are going forward with all the proposals we put in the spending review and the budget," he told MPs.

"I know you don't like the answer that we are sticking to our policies, but we are sticking to our policies.

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Mr Cameron said housing benefit for people of working age had gone up 50 per cent over the past five years, and the budget was "out of control".

He also rejected criticism of the 10 per cent cut for those who have been on Job Seeker's Allowance for more than a year.